'Why do you always hang out with her?'

'Really?'Jebediah said, raising an eyebrow. 'You're going there?'

'You always hang out with her' Carl complained loudly after school as they made their way.

Carl was following Jebediah as he made his way home, instead of heading to his own home. He often came home late, or stayed overnight at Jebediah's home, which Jebediah's mother allowed without a problem. But Jebediah did not want to stay overnight at Carl's house, rarely even visiting it, claiming to feel uncomfortable around Carl's family, though they were nice people. 

'Do you have a problem with me hanging out with Tamara?' Jebediah asked him.

'You give her more time than you do me' Carl complained loudly. 

'Really?' Jebediah said again, 'you're going to bring this up again?'

'Why can't we be an open couple out in school and everywhere else?' Carl asked him.

'I'm not comfortable with that' Jebediah replied as they continued to walk side by side. 

'Why not?'

'We're both underage still' Jebediah replied. 'We're not really supposed to be having sex anyway.'

'Who cares?' Carl snapped. 

'Keep your voice down' Jebediah glared at him. 

'Why do you care what people think?' Carl asked him.

'Because I'm not comfortable with it' Jebediah answered. 

'Why not?' Carl demanded. 'You say that you love me but you don't want to show our love out in public. Why is that? Everyone already knows we're together. Its an open secret. Yeah we don't tell anyone outside our own families....but lets face it, everybody already knows.'

'Why can't you just accept my wishes?'

'Because I'm bothered that you want to keep it a secret. Are you ashamed of me?'

'No its nothing like that' Jebediah said suddenly dejected and hurt. 'Why would you even say that?'

'Then why are you keeping this a secret still? Whats the point? Everyone already knows anyway so....why can't we be open about our relationship?'

'I just don't feel comfortable with it.'

'We are in a relationship aren't we?'

'Of course we are' Jebediah said to him. 

'And you love me?'

Jebediah glanced about him before he answered, checking to make sure they were out of earshot of anyone around them. 

'Of course I love you.'

'Then why are you afraid to say it?'

'I'm not' Jebediah answered sourly turning his head away. 'God you can be so whiny sometimes' he muttered under his breath, though Carl heard clearly. 

'And you can be so cold sometimes' Carl added bitterly, glaring at him as he walked with his hands in his pockets. 

They walked in a sullen silence for a short time, until they reached Jebediah's home.

Carl slowed to a stop by the garden gate, seeing Jebediah's mother waiting by the car. 

'Where are you going?' Carl asked. 

'Oh I forgot to tell you' Jebediah said, 'I won't see you this weekend because I'm visiting my grandparents.'

'You're leaving for two days and you didn't even tell me?' Carl declared loudly, drawing back slightly, his expression of shock, anger and disbelief. 

'Calm down' Jebediah told him casually. 

'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I forgot.'

'But you never speak about your grandparents.'

'They live away' Jebediah answered simply. 

Carl turned away sharply, gripping the strap of his bag tightly as it hung off his shoulder. 

'Sorry' Jebediah said. 'I should have told you.'

'When will you be back?' Carl asked him, remaining where he was as Jebediah walked towards the car parked in the drive, his mother getting into the drivers seat. 

'I'll see you Monday.'

Jebediah got into the car, sitting in the front passenger seat. His mother waved to Carl briefly as they pulled slowly away, driving out of the estate. 

'You didn't tell him where we're really going?' his mother said to him.

'No' Jebediah mumbled glumly as he stared at the car mirror, seeing Carl still watching them until they turned the corner. 'I can't.'

His mother was silent for a time, as if she were about to say something, and then she changed her mind. 

'There's food in the backseat if you're hungry' she said. 

Jebediah glanced behind him, seeing a several bags behind them, filled with stuff. 

'There's fresh clothes and your toothbrush there as well, in case we need to stay longer.'

'Thanks mom' Jebediah smiled to her. 'I don't mean to be a hassle for you.'

'Don't be silly' his mother smiled, though not taking her eyes away from the road. 'You're my son, and I would go to the ends of the earth for you.'

Jebediah smiled at his mother at that, before looking away again. 

'Do you want to put some music on?' she said a few moments later.

'No its fine. I quite like the silence. Its peaceful.'